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Oldcastle captured the last title of the year in the Meath GAA Co Board schedule when they proved too strong for Drumconrath / Meath Hill in the u-21 B FC decider at Carlanstown tonight with a merited 2-13 to 0-12 victory.

This was a fiercely competitive game and Oldcastle were that bit more effective in front of the posts and also moved the ball swiftly and accurately as they established a 1-7 to 0-5 interval advantage.

The opening Oldcastle goal arrived in the 13th minute and while there was a touch of good fortune about the score, it was a pivotal moment.

A lofted point attempt from Conor Delaney hit the upright and Ronan Maguire made the most of the chance to finish to the net.

Four pointed CJ Healy frees were augmented by a brace from Scully and a lone Sean Maxwell effort after a fine run in the fourth minute.

Ian Malone kept Drumconrath / Meath Hill ticking over with three converted frees while James Mooney and Shane McCabe were on the mark from play.

The players wearing the number 13 jersey dominated the second-half scoring with Malone sending over four from play for Drumconrath / Meath Hill while his numerical couterpart, Scully claimed another brace to leave a goal in it (1-9 to 0-9) after 40 minutes.

Drumconrath / Meath Hill lost McCabe to a black card soon after and then it was the turn of the number 10 on each side to trade points as Healy (free) for Oldcastle and Ryan Carry for Drumconrath / Meath Hill, with an effort that could have yielded a goal, on the mark.

Carry was withdrawn subsequently, although the miss for goal chance was not the reason, but the decision did not please some from Drumconrath / Meath Hill.

Oldcastle continued to shade the exchanges and took a major step towards lifting the trophy when a surging run from midfielder Robert Smith, who was outstanding, made the opening for Maguire's second goal.

With a 2-10 to -10 lead by the 53rd minute, Oldcastle were home and hosed, but Drumconrath / Meath Hill kept battling despite the loss of Ryan Owens who was dismissed near the end.

Further points from Scully, Maxwell and Maguire added gloss to the Oldcastle victory while Daniel Byrne and Kieran Slavin completed the tally for the combination.

As usual, St Michael's officials had everything well organised and the public address enabled Oldcastle captain to thank everyone that needed to be thanked after he received the trophy from Meath Co Board vice-chairman Peter O'Halloran.

Drumconrath GFC held a well attended AGM in the Community Centre Drumconrath on Wednesday 7th of December when the Top table where returned unopposed. Chairman Paul Carey, Secretary Joanna Duff and Treasurer Mary O'Neill set out on their 3rd year at the helm.

Sean Kane was thanked for managing the Junior team for the past 2 years and Anthony Monaghan was ratified as Coach for 2017.

A vote of sympathy was passed for all decreased members in 2016 which included former Club President Gerald McArdle.

Drumconrath/Meath Hill made the Final of the U21B for the 1st time as a combined team with a hard fought exciting win over a gallant Clann na nGael side hoping to make the Stiofáin OMealóid Cup Final for the second time in 3 years having won it in 2014.

Clann na nGael threatened to over run the North Meath lads early in cold and frosty Carlanstown as their fast paced well drilled style of football seen them point twice in 1st 3 minutes. Eamon O'Donnachada and Cian Swaine gave them a solid foothold in the centre of the field and the DMH lads looked out of sorts.

Daniel Byrne with a fine point from a free after 9 and soon after another free from Ian Malone had the sides level something which the North Meath team scarcely deserved as they where living on crumbs during this time.

Clann na nGael continued to dominate and pointed 3 times as the 1st quarter ended. Byrne added another free but Clann na nGael countered to leave it 0-6 to 0-3. DMH had taken remedial action and interdouced Kieran Slavin and Matthew Carolan and with Ryan Owens and Tómas Conlon coming more into the game, Conlon set Malone up for DMH's first point from play on 22 minutes.

These last 8 minutes were totally dominated by DMH as Slavin found space to fire expertly to the net and most people wondered how the team in Red and Blue led. Things got better as Shane McCabe won the resultant kick out and pointed from distance, McCabe added another and Conlon waltzed through the Clann defence to find the bottom corner of the net to send Drumconrath/Meath Hill in at half time 2-6 to 0-6 to the good.

A point within 10 seconds of the start of the second from Malone put DMH 7 points up and it looked as if they had the measure of Clann na nGael but the Athboy parish side had other ideas and took control again and had reeled off 4 points by the 37th minutes. Slavin, Owens and Conlon fired over defiant long range scores but it was only a short reprieve as a further 5 points from Clann na nGael had the score 2-10 to 0-15 with twelve minutes to go and the game was really in the melting pot.

DMH goalkeeper Dominic Yorke had pulled of some brilliant saves to keep his side in the game as time and time again he thwarted the rampant Clann na nGael attack to keep a clean sheet.

Conor O'Halloran steadied the Red and Blue ship with a score on 53 minutes and when Byrne found the net with a decisive 4 minutes left on the clock it looked as if DMH had finally shook off the stubborn Clann na nGael challenge.

Two further points from Clann na nGael left the dreaded 3 points in it but as the mounted one last charge McCabe somehow intercepted a ball in midfield and transfered the leather up-field were James Mooney was fouled and Byrne added the insurance point as the final whistle sounded on the kick out.

Credit must be given to both sides for providing a fine game of football and a great advertisement for this grade that kept the spectators enthralled right to the end on probably the coldest evening of the winter so far.

8 Terry Skelly (Drumconrath)His first championship start for the Drums in a few years. Done everything in his power to keep them in it at Pairc Tailteann. Covered every inch of the pitch and kicked four excellent points against neighbours Meath Hill.